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Weight

Male: 85-130; Female: 65-110 lbs

Height

Male: 25-28; Female: 23-26 inches

Color(s)

any color, including white, pinto, or brindle

Overview

The Akita originated in Japan. Unchanged for centuries, this breed is considered the national dog of Japan and a natural monument. They were highly prized, revered, and only owned by nobility and aristocracy. They were used in various capacities such as Imperial guards, hunter of bear and boar, and waterfowl retrieving. They are the largest of the Spitz-type breeds. Today, the Akita is a faithful companion, therapy dog, and guard dog.

Character

Akitas are large, sturdy, and muscular. The paws are webbed which makes them excellent swimmers. They have a reserved manner and carry themselves with great dignity. They are powerful and alert, responsive and courageous. The Akita is a noble and dominating breed.

Temperament

The Akita is highly intelligent, fearless, and spontaneous. They thrive on human companionship. They are extremely loyal to their family and those they know, but are wary and aloof of strangers. They are exceedingly protective of their family, their territory, and of their food. They are particularly aggressive toward other dogs and pets. They will get along with older, very well behaved children within their family unit, but will not tolerate children they don't know. They make excellent guard dogs, although they are not excessive barkers. They do not do well if left alone for extended periods of time. For this reason, they are not well suited for a two career family. They require an inordinate amount of attention. Akitas are not recommended for the novice dog owner, or owners who are placid and submissive.

Care

The Akita requires significant grooming with a firm bristle brush on a daily basis. Bathing should only be done when absolutely necessary with a mild shampoo to prevent stripping the coat of the natural oils. It is important to keep the hair on the bottom of the paws trimmed to preserve their characteristic of webbed feet. They are prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, eye problems, and lupus.

Coat

The Akita is a double coat, waterproof breed. The outer coat is harsh, straight, and stands slightly off the body. The under coat is dense, soft, and close to the body. The hair on the head, legs, and ears is short, while the hair on the tail is long and profuse. They typically shed their coat twice a year. The Akita coat colors include pure white, red, sesame, and brindle.

Training

The Akita requires intensive and extensive socialization and obedience training. It is absolutely imperative that they know who their master is or they will take charge. They do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed training methods. They do best with patience, kindness, firmness, fairness, and consistency. Akitas typically prefer to be clean and is easier to housetrain than many other breeds.

Activity

The Akita does not require an over-abundance of exercise. They are moderately active indoors. They enjoy play sessions with their family or other family activities. However, they will become bored and destructive if left alone for extended periods of time either inside or outside. They enjoy a daily walk, but it is vitally important they are very securely leashed and kept from encountering other dogs. They are not well suited for apartment dwellings and do best in a home with a large securely fenced yard.

Ownership

Help reduce the number of Akita puppies in shelters by doing your due diligence. Many puppies are often purchased with little or no knowledge of what goes into parenting one. Uneducated decisions often leave the puppy in need of adoption and in the care of rescue groups. Bringing home a puppy into your family has many benefits but we first implore you to educate yourself. An informed decision will take into account the characteristics of the breed, your lifestyle, expected veterinary care, the demands and limitations of owning one, their activity requirements and levels of companionship required.

Characteristics

Size:

Grooming Needs:

Exercise Needs:

Good With Dogs:

Watchdog Ability:

Featured Akita Breeder

We strive to have happy healthy confirmation correct puppies for loving family homes. Our Akitas are very important to us and we spend a lot of time with them as well as the puppies that we produce. We believe a well socialized Akita starts with lots of socialization right from the start and is im...

Ask a QuestionAbout Akitas

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Anonymous asked:

12/24/2014 7:03:06 PM

12/24/2014 7:03:06 PM

Is an Akita right for me? I'm not really a BIG fan of huge dogs just because I'm afraid of them becoming aggressive! But they are beautiful, should I get an Akita? Like if I get them at a really young age? I've been around aggressive dogs before... And we trained them but they were like mid size and we found them when they were mid age, not puppies (tho they are not as big as Akita's, they are pitbulls)... Are Akita's aggressive around other dogs?

1 Comment

Anonymous

The Akita breed is not a breed of dog for the first time owner, nor are they for people who do not understand dogs and how to train them with positive reinforcement techniques. The Akita can be known for aggression, as just like the American Pit Bull Terrier, or the Shar-Pei or the Chow Chow - they were bred to be genetically wary of strangers and other dogs. Which can equal into aggression if not properly socialized. But if you get your dog as a young pup and work with him/her so that they understand what is and what is not a threat, then they can be perfectly happy and social dogs. 12/27/2014 3:55:30 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/26/2014 11:49:19 PM

2/26/2014 11:49:19 PM

Unpredictable behavior in Akita I have an 8-year old neutered male Akita who has bit two people in the past six months without any warning. Both were women, guests in my home who, fortunately love animals and blamed themselves. I have young grandkids - 3 months to 6 years old who he seems to tolerate okay. He does bark and warns us when they are getting in his space if we don't happen to notice it. I would hate to have anything happen. Any suggestions? I would prefer to give him to someone who has less activity and no young children rather than put him down but don't want to take a chance on someone being maimed or worse. He has been a good dog up until the past few months.

1 Comment

Anonymous

Akitas are actually known for being aggressive. Your best bet is strong training, maybe talk to a professional trainer and get some tips. Akitas are actually on a lot of Not Allowed Dog lists for home owners insurances due to their aggression problems. There may be a reason why he is stressing out or something, maybe something in the house has changed or something has happened to him a few months ago to trigger this behavior. Either way, talk to a specialist in an effort to prevent something horrible from happening.4/8/2014 12:39:02 AM

Anonymous asked:

1/3/2014 2:58:45 PM

1/3/2014 2:58:45 PM

Was it Helen Keller who brought the first Akita to the United States? Was Helen Keller the first person to bring an Akita to the US?

The Siberian, Seppala and other member's of the Husky breed do shed a lot, yes. But shedding will be more with bad quality food and poor grooming by the owner.7/9/2014 12:18:02 PM

Anonymous asked:

3/10/2013 1:31:43 PM

3/10/2013 1:31:43 PM

what is the best way to breed my Akita? I have a female and she is not really into the male the dogs are always fighting and biting at every other is that normal?

1 Comment

Anonymous

No, that is not normal. If you do not know what you are doing, you could seriously injure your dog, or the male. You need to find a reputable breeder and study under them. I suggest spaying your female, as she has aggression issues that should NOT be passed onto the next generation. Unless your dog is of impeccable standards and temperament, then the dog should not be bred.7/9/2014 12:19:41 PM

Anonymous asked:

3/6/2013 4:28:11 PM

3/6/2013 4:28:11 PM

what is the life expectancy of an Akita?

1 Comment

Anonymous

Akitas live for approximately 11 to 12 years on average.5/27/2013 4:02:06 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/28/2013 3:33:36 PM

2/28/2013 3:33:36 PM

My whita Akita puppy we got is starting to get brown dots on his ears.is that normal. Deaf too We got him at 8 weeks old, and two days after noticed he was deaf. Now he's 12 weeks and his ears are getting brown dots. Will his ears become all brown?

1 Comment

Anonymous

Coloration can change in the Akita breed as a puppy, so that is normal. Deafness, however, is not common in the breed. Although the white gene is known to cause deafness. Contact your breeder, they should give you half of your purchase price back and be checking on other puppies. They should also be spaying and or neutering the dam/sire if they are producing deaf puppies. Take your pup to the vet as well and do a hearing test to confirm full on deafness.7/9/2014 12:21:33 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/25/2013 1:24:26 PM

2/25/2013 1:24:26 PM

how can you tell the age of an akita she is a rather big dog, and she was given to me by a friend and im unsure of the age, no paperwork was involved and she is about 25 lbs.

1 Comment

Anonymous

Akitas are big dogs as adults. Vets are able tell age by a dog's teeth. A 25 pound akita is a very young dog.12/14/2013 7:42:39 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/21/2013 6:26:45 PM

2/21/2013 6:26:45 PM

how big should a female akita be at 12 weeks

1 Comment

Anonymous

Contacting your breeding and talking to your vet is the best thing to do if you are worried about the size of your puppy.7/9/2014 12:22:16 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/8/2013 6:21:36 PM

2/8/2013 6:21:36 PM

why is it that my akita don't like other dogs only people

2 Comments

Anonymous

My Akita's the same way? I had two others family only kinda dogs. Very protective of owners is my guess they keep us from harm from some people and all animals.:)3/16/2013 7:44:33 AM

Anonymous

akitas are known for being loyal and protective of their immediate family. Most Akitass are known to be dog aggressive by nature due to such trait being bred in them since the beginings of time in Japan, country of origin. Selected ethical and reputable breeders try to breed away from the dog aggression trait without compromising the soundness, great people temperament, and health of the breed. Please use caution as your dog don't know any better but to protect you. 4/10/2013 9:36:12 PM

Anonymous asked:

2/7/2013 4:10:55 PM

2/7/2013 4:10:55 PM

Bathroom How many times a day does a 16 month old Akita need to go to the bathroom?

1 Comment

Anonymous

You should be doing the 2 hour rule. As every 2 hours, you take your puppy out to use the bathroom during the day. And every 4 hours at night. Crating your puppy when you can not have your pup attached to you by leash will stop your pup from wandering off to use the bathroom without you knowing. Watch your pup at all time and if your pup whines, sniffs the floor, or circles, it's time to take him/her out to pee/poop.7/9/2014 12:24:15 PM

Anonymous asked:

1/26/2013 9:55:17 PM

1/26/2013 9:55:17 PM

what are akitas bred for

1 Comment

Anonymous

Akita's were originally bred for hunting Bear and Deer2/5/2013 1:31:03 AM

My two akitas female 8 male 9 are fighting they grew up together why are they fight female is 8 and male is 9 they have been together since they were pups and they just started fighting bad blood and all what is going on?

1 Comment

Anonymous

females don't generally get along. your lucky they co habitated as long as they did. most people that have more than one akita in a household usually have better luck with a male and female. 2/12/2013 11:10:29 AM

do akita puppies get along with other puppies? I am a potential adopter

1 Comment

Anonymous

Akita pups do get along with other pups. Akitas can be very sociable animals as long as the are socialized young. My Akitas have lived with anything from a rat terrier to border collies to other akitas. The horses took a little getting used to.4/11/2014 2:53:51 PM

breeding my akita when she is full grown I have a 14 week old female akita that I am going to breed when she is full grown but first my husband and I want to get her registered - where do you go to do that?

I have 10 week akita. What can i feed him with. Fella at the pet store recommended me the best... I have 10 week akita. What can i feed him with. Fella at the pet store recommended me the best food, but ofc i would like to feed him with some snacks to :)

What do you do with your Akita puppy when you are out of town and eating out. Is it okay to... What do you do with your Akita puppy when you are out of town and eating out. Is it okay to leave him in your car in the crate that is his bed?

2 Comments

Anonymous

NO. You shouldn't leave any dog in a car for a long period of time. (1/2 hour or more)12/10/2012 9:31:04 PM

Anonymous

NO. You shouldn't leave any animal in a car for a lond period. (20 minutes or longer)12/10/2012 9:33:38 PM

Anonymous asked:

10/31/2012 2:20:03 PM

10/31/2012 2:20:03 PM

I have a 2 year old full bred Akita that my family and I adore and love. How do I go by... I have a 2 year old full bred Akita that my family and I adore and love. How do I go by breeding him if he is registered as a CKC instead of AKC Registered?

1 Comment

Anonymous

Hello, I am Bruce Hinson, you can go with AKC or CKC. The pup's will be CKC. Look in the CKC web page and you will find a breeder there.11/27/2012 8:27:51 PM

Anonymous asked:

10/29/2012 11:49:31 AM

10/29/2012 11:49:31 AM

Hello ! i just got an Akita pup, 6 weeks old. 2 questions, 1) his muzzle is almost all dark... Hello ! i just got an Akita pup, 6 weeks old. 2 questions, 1) his muzzle is almost all dark colored, he is supposed to be a pure japanese akita, will this color change to white like its supposed to later ?
2) His right ear is erect and he can control it, however i have yet to see him move or erect his left ear. is this permanent ? if not, how will i know ?
Thank you !!

1 Comment

Anonymous

I have raised and breed akitas for over 15 years! I just want to tell that his ear will stand before he/she is 3months. The dark muzzle may lighten but not much most have the dark mask! Good luck they are they most loveable and reliable pups I have ever raised!11/26/2012 9:07:19 PM

Anonymous asked:

10/18/2012 6:01:09 PM

10/18/2012 6:01:09 PM

Where do Akitas come from

1 Comment

Anonymous

Japan11/12/2012 12:43:55 AM

Anonymous asked:

10/10/2012 8:53:37 AM

10/10/2012 8:53:37 AM

i have a 12 week old akita puppy mix with a bernese mountain dog - will she be a good dog with... i have a 12 week old akita puppy mix with a bernese mountain dog - will she be a good dog with children ?

1 Comment

Anonymous

Yes but stop the biting, play nipping in the bud. Zero tolerance! Scold and say no bite, then put out your hand and say kisses. Over and over, she will get it. They are very intelligent dogs.4/10/2013 1:23:28 PM

Anonymous asked:

10/9/2012 4:51:21 PM

10/9/2012 4:51:21 PM

i have a one year old akita pup. recently he has been losing weight. he dropped4 kilos in 12... i have a one year old akita pup. recently he has been losing weight. he dropped4 kilos in 12 days. local vet did tests and found nothing. he gave me two types of tablets and enzyme capsules for his food. it seems his body isnt using the nutrients from his food, it just passes through him. im really worried at this stage. he really looks like a starving dog now. i cant even pet him cos all his bones are showing under his coat. plus he has loss the hair of his backside.

2 Comments

Anonymous

I just went through this with mine, I found mine to be allergic to grains . I changed his diet , gave him fish oil pills , and within 2-3 weeks , I had a huge difference . His stool was my biggest indicator . 10/12/2012 7:13:45 PM

Anonymous

Our Akita did the same thing when she was 6 months old. They tested her and took about 6 months but found that her pancreas was not obsorbing the nutrients needed. Once we started her on pancrezyme she gained weigh and now has lived to a a healthy 12 year old girl. It is a life long treatment.11/6/2012 11:57:46 AM

Anonymous asked:

9/7/2012 8:55:14 AM

9/7/2012 8:55:14 AM

My husband and I are thinking about getting an Akita puppy. I'm just concerned because what I've... My husband and I are thinking about getting an Akita puppy. I'm just concerned because what I've read. We have a 6 year old Siberian husky---a 5 year old chihuahua terrier mix and a 16 month old child. Would this be a decent dog to get? Plus would a female or male be preceded for our situation?

3 Comments

Anonymous

I have had 2 Akita's in the past 14 years. If you raise them correctly and don't let them outsmart you they are great dogs. I will warn you that they do work best sticking with their own breed, and do not do well living with same-gender dogs. They are wonderful with children.
I recently got a lab/pitbull mix puppy from my local shelter and my Akita was so careful not to hurt him, that he let the puppy put two holes in his face while playing. My godmother, a breeder of 30 years told me that Akitas should not be mixed with other breeds or opposite gender.
THEY ARE AMAZING DOGS THOUGH!!9/21/2012 11:23:42 PM

Anonymous

I have a 5 year old female Akita. She has been around plenty of dogs in daycare as well as family dogs Greyhound, Black Lab and mutts. She gets along with all and very loving. She also is great with my nephews all under 1o years old. Akita's get a bad rep sometimes, but she is amazing and I would highly recommend you getting one. Socialize them from the start and there should be no issues.10/1/2012 9:32:03 PM

Anonymous

If you have no experience with Akitas, Imake sure that the dog is heavily socialized. This is critical to teach it to act accordingly within your pack. You have to be a firm owner, not a pushover, or an Akita will just take over. This is not the kind of dog you want showing dominant behaviors. This is an intelligent breed that doesn't respond to heavy handed training tactics, so experienced training is important. They're also playful, loveable dogs, but you have to exercise caution with a baby in the house. Such a large, powerful dog could easily injure a little one. Just be aware that later in life, your Akita may not accept your child's friends, and may view them as threats rather than friends. This is a very protective breed.5/27/2013 4:10:34 PM

Anonymous asked:

7/30/2012 5:22:05 AM

7/30/2012 5:22:05 AM

I have a chance to get an 18 month old male Akita, I don't believe it has been socialized with... I have a chance to get an 18 month old male Akita, I don't believe it has been socialized with other animals. The owner claims it doesn't like male dogs or cats but she really hasn't taken the time to try to socialize him. I have a 3yr old Siberian Husky, male who is docile with all other male dogs and my cats, which is the other thing, I have 3 cats who have always lived with dogs. I have always trained many different breeds and never had any problems. Am I looking at an impossible situation? By the way, I'm home all day & can spend all the time I need with the animals.

3 Comments

Anonymous

Ive had 3 akita dogs. I wouldnt recommend getting it if you have other pets. I used to let my second one play with other dogs when he was still a pup and he was fine till he got to around 6 months old and started getting aggressive towards the other dogs8/1/2012 3:05:44 PM

Anonymous

The reason your akita is aggressive to other dogs is because you are not showing that your the dominant when there is other dogs and they will be calm around other dogs.
9/7/2012 5:13:30 PM

Anonymous

I recently got a female 4 mos old, and she is too big and rough with our older male dog. Have to keep them seperated. Also I have had a difficult time d/t previous owner abusing/ not training/ and not loving this puppie! It is hard work especially d/t the nature of the dog. 11/2/2012 4:07:18 PM

Anonymous asked:

7/24/2012 9:06:40 PM

7/24/2012 9:06:40 PM

my male akita mix is approximately 13 weeks old and his testicles haven't dropped should i be... my male akita mix is approximately 13 weeks old and his testicles haven't dropped should i be worried or no?

2 Comments

Anonymous

I wouldn't worry too much, my akita puppy is the same age and his testicles haven't dropped either. I think it will take a few more months yet.8/18/2012 11:32:39 PM

Anonymous

Be careful with these dogs with this condition. If they have not dropped by the age 2 the jewels will need to be removed as they may become cancerous as told to me by vet. I had the same situation recently.11/28/2012 10:19:23 AM

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